‘Was today their first day on the ships?’ I asked Leacon.
‘Yes. Not a good day either.’
Everyone jumped and looked round at a tremendous boom. Another cannon shot from the Round Tower. There was an answering flash and boom from the Gosport side.
‘What are they doing?’ I asked Leacon.
‘Practising covering the harbour, should the French try to gain entrance. We should be able to stop them, those cannon have a range of over a mile. But if they defeat our fleet at sea, there will be nothing to prevent them making a landing elsewhere.’
‘George,’ I said, ‘I wonder if I might ask yet another favour.’
He looked at me curiously. ‘Yes?’
I nodded at the men. ‘It is confidential.’
He sighed. ‘Come round the side of the warehouse.’
We went round the corner, out of earshot of the company.
‘Did it not go well today?’ I asked.
‘The whole company has been on the Great Harry. God’s death, the size of that ship. It has enough cannon to conquer Hell itself. None of the lads had encountered anything like it. Even when we were climbing up the rope ladder, a gust of wind came and it started swinging to and fro, us clinging on like snails to a drainpipe. I could see the men were terrified of tumbling into the sea. Then on board they all slid and fell with every little movement of the sea. And they didn’t like being under that netting.’
‘I have heard of it. Fixed above the decks, so boarders would fall on top of it. With soldiers carrying small pikes standing underneath.’
‘The mesh on the netting is thick, you feel hemmed in standing under it. And if anything happened to the ship, if it went over, you’d be trapped under it.’ He laughed; something wild in the sound made me frown. ‘Not that most of the men can swim. We should have been given more time to practise; we’ve been here a week. The men are getting bored and irritable doing nothing, hence the desertions. You can’t easily replace skilled archers. The sailors laughed at them sliding about, which didn’t help. The sailors go barefoot, clinging to the deck like cats.’
‘Soldiers and sailors must fight the same battle. If it comes.’
‘In two or three days, from what they say.’ The haunted look was back in his eyes. ‘We’ve been told we’re going to the Great Harry. As the flagship she will be at the head of the line. The men are all cast down, and Snodin doesn’t help, snarling at them over every grumble they make. Being on the ship, he hasn’t had a drink all day and that doesn’t aid his temper.’ He sighed. ‘Well, Matthew, what is this favour?’
‘George, I would not trouble you were it not important. But a woman’s fate may be at stake. I need to speak again to Philip West, that I saw at the Godshouse.’ I took a deep breath. ‘He is on the Mary Rose. I want to know if you can help me get on board there, this evening, to talk to him.’
Leacon looked doubtful. ‘Matthew, they are only allowing people with official business on the ships.’ He looked out to sea. The big rowboats had lit their lanterns now, little points of light dancing on the water. The setting sun outlined the ships from behind in a fiery glow.
‘Please,’ I said. ‘It’s important.’
He considered. ‘Easy enough to pay a boatman to take us over to the Mary Rose, but getting on board may be another matter even with me there. You certainly won’t get on without me. Very well. But I cannot take long, I need to get back to camp; the men are downhearted and they must make ready to parade before the King tomorrow morning.’ He brushed away a mosquito; now dark was coming they were starting to whine around our ears.
‘George, I am more grateful than I can say.’
‘First I must wait until the rest of the men arrive with Sir Franklin. He can lead them back to camp, then – ’
He broke off. Snodin, out of sight, was yelling furiously. ‘Stand up! Stand, you lazy slugs!’
‘God’s death,’ Leacon muttered. ‘He’ll go too far – ’ He walked rapidly round the warehouse, Barak and I following. Many of the men now lay sprawled on the ground. Snodin was haranguing them furiously. ‘Lazy bastards! Stand up! You’re not in your dirty houses now!’
Nobody moved. Carswell said, ‘We’re tired! Why shouldn’t we rest?’
‘The captain told you to wait, not lie on the ground like fucking toads!’ The whiffler was almost beside himself, purple jowls trembling with fury.
Everyone turned as Leacon appeared. ‘Don’t talk to Master Snodin like that, Carswell!’ he snapped.
Pygeon stood, pointing a shaking finger at the whiffler. ‘Sir, he’s been throwing abuse at us all day, all we wanted was to rest our legs after being on that ship!’
‘Afraid, jug ears?’ Sulyard called out contemptuously.